Spool assembly for absorbing slack of fiber optic jumpers routed through raceways and network equipment

ABSTRACT

A fiber optics system includes a relay rack having network equipment bays inserted therein. A raceway extends over the relay rack for routing fiber optic jumpers to the bays. A spool assembly for absorbing and storing slack or excess length of the jumpers is selectively incorporated in the system. The spool assembly includes a cylindrical spool supported on a mount having an adhesive surface. The adhesive surface attaches to the relay rack in order to attach the spool to the relay rack such that the spool is positioned adjacent to the bays in order to store the slack of jumpers connected between the raceway and the bays upon the jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool. The spool has a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the jumpers such that the jumpers are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius when wrapped over or around the spool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mechanisms for routing, supporting, andstoring fiber optic jumpers.

2. Background Art

Fiber optic troughs carry and route cables such as fiber optic jumpers.Certain troughs called “raceways” horizontally extend over networkequipment such as fiber distributing frames and bays which make up afiber optics environment. The raceways are similar in design to raingutters. Jumpers placed inside the raceways run along the raceways frompoint-to-point. Jumpers exit the raceways through exit troughs toconnect with the network equipment.

Network equipment includes electronic shelving mounted into relay racks.Such relay racks are also known as bay frameworks and equipment bays.The jumpers exiting from a raceway typically run vertically down thesides of the relay rack to connect with the network equipment. Suchjumpers may also run vertically down through a duct located inside therelay rack to connect with the network equipment. The relay rack sidesand the duct represent standard vertical trough systems. Such standardvertical trough systems allow jumper access in/out of the equipment baysbut do not take jumper bend radius control or jumper slack managementinto consideration.

Jumper bend radius control is important as jumpers should not be bentbeyond a minimum curvature radius of 1.5 inches in order to ensure theirproper signal transmission characteristics. Jumper slack managementcontrol is important, as the actual length of jumpers routed throughraceways and network equipment in a fiber optics environment is usuallymuch greater than the length physically required for the jumpers to beconnected between termination points in the fiber optics environment.

As a result of the deficiencies associated with the standard verticaltrough systems, relay racks have been augmented on their sides withcostly trough systems having bend radius limiters. Such a trough systemgenerally includes a metal trough that is a part of (or attached to) arelay rack and runs vertically along the relay rack. The bend radiuslimiters fit in certain limited areas relative to the relay rack basedupon constraints of the metal trough. In addition, once the metal troughis in place the metal trough and the bend radius limiters do not havethe flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of a fiber opticsenvironment.

It is recognized that jumpers should have an extra length (commonlyknown as “slack”) than the length actually required for being connectedto termination points in a fiber optics environment for two reasons.First, the extra length enables jumpers to have a loose fit andtherefore be able to slide over one another without hindrance. Second,the extra length enables jumpers to transmit optical signals correctlyby not reducing the length of the jumpers so that the actual wavelengthdistance (generally considered at five feet) between connectors remainsconsistent.

As such, there is a need to store jumper slack next to network equipmentincluding relay racks or within fiber distribution frames. A fiberdistribution frame is made up of relay racks linked together by ahorizontal and vertical trough system. Both relay racks and fiberdistribution frames require jumper slack and jumper bend radiusmanagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a spool assembly having a jumper spoolfor absorbing fiber optic jumper slack in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention in which the jumper spool is in anon-telescoped layout;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the spool assembly shown in FIG. 1 inwhich the jumper spool is in a telescoped layout;

FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the spoolassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a multiple spool assembly arrangementhaving jumper spools for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which thejumper spools are in a non-telescoped layout;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the multiple spool assemblyarrangement shown in FIG. 5 in which the jumper spools are in atelescoped layout;

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of themultiple spool assembly arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a rack panel assembly having multiplejumper spools for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the rackpanel assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a fiber optics environmenthaving a raceway and network equipment in which spool assemblies havingjumper spools in accordance with the present invention are selectivelyincorporated as part of the environment for absorbing fiber optic jumperslack; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of another fiber opticsenvironment having a raceway and network equipment in which spoolassemblies and rack panel assemblies in accordance with the presentinvention are selectively incorporated as part of this environment forabsorbing fiber optic jumper slack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Jumper spools for absorbing and storing slack of fiber optic jumpersrouted through raceways and network equipment in accordance with thepresent invention have many advantages. In general, the jumper spoolsaugment existing relay rack (bay) trough openings (either vertically orhorizontally) within the trough openings. The jumper spools are adheredto the inside of the troughs with the use of adhesive and placed atstrategic points within the troughs to secure the jumpers and storeslack associated with the jumpers. The jumper spools absorb the jumperslack as a result of the jumpers being wrapped around or over the jumperspools. The jumper spools provide for the minimum jumper bend radius of1.5 inches (3.0 inches diameter) for the jumpers wrapped over or aroundthe jumper spools.

The jumper spools provision the security, protection, and containment ofjumpers on the side of each bay relay rack or on the bay equipmentitself on an extremely cost effective basis. The jumper spools areflexible in their use, placement, and ability to adapt as compared withtypical jumper limiters.

The jumper spools in accordance with other embodiments of the presentinvention have a telescoping feature. The telescoping feature isactivated by pressing a spring button on the exterior facing of thejumper spool. The jumper spool expands to its largest thickness (such asthree inches) away from a structure (such as a relay rack) to which itis adhered. With successive touches on the spring button, the thicknessof the jumper spool reduces in ½ inch increments down to its minimumthickness (such as one inch). The use of the telescoping feature permitsa rapid customization of a jumper spool to a bay and restrains thejumpers in a loose containment field while permitting the jumpers toslide in relation to one another.

The jumper spools contain and protect jumpers in existing troughsubsystems without the requirement to place new troughs. The jumperspools are configurable in one, two, and higher multiple jumper limiterspool varieties. The multiple jumper spool varieties rapidly absorbexcess jumper lengths (i.e., slack) of jumpers placed in troughs withoutmitigating the minimum bend radius by wrapping the jumpers in “figureeight” arrangements between two or more jumper spools.

The jumper spools accommodate easy installation. In the past, time andeffort spent to place fasteners and spools was complicated, complex, andlimited by the construction of metal troughs that are a part of (orattached to) a relay rack. The jumper spools use existing relay rackstorage without further complex modifications and simplify theadaptation process. Wherever the jumper spools fit, the jumper spoolscan be used and attached. As such, by using a telecommunicationsadhesive, the jumper spool (i.e., jumper spool radius limiters) can beplaced at will.

The cost factor of the jumper spools is a dramatic paradigm shift in andof itself. The jumper spools attach to a structure such as a relay rack,rack equipment, or trough from their rear using a stick-on adhesive. Assuch, the jumper spools have the ability to adapt, modify, and protectjumpers while at the same time not compromising the integrity of theminimum bend radius necessary for the provisioning of fiber opticservice.

As such, advantages of the jumper spools include being cheaper, better,faster, and more easily adaptive. The jumper spools trigger a newparadigm shift on service provisioning of jumpers for slack management,containment, and protection.

A summary of the advantages of the jumper spools is as follows. Thejumper spools do not require fixed locations for radius guides. Thejumper spools use stick-on adhesive to attach to structures such as thesides of a relay rack without screws or other such hardware. The jumperspools protect and maintain the bend radius of the jumpers. The radiusguides of multiple jumper spools are configurable to be used in tandemexclusively for jumper wrapping. The jumper spools provide discretestorage for excess wrapping of jumpers. The jumper spools adhere tonetwork equipment as indicated above and, as such, are easilyreplaceable and movable. The telescoping functionality of the jumperspools permits jumper storage capacity expansion. The jumper spools canbe easily installed or rearranged.

The jumper spools have a lower cost compared with glide assemblies orstandard vertical troughs. Further, neither the glide assemblies nor thestandard vertical troughs provide any of the jumper spool advantagessummarized above.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of a spool assembly 20 forabsorbing fiber optic jumper slack in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention is shown. Spool assembly 20 generally includes ajumper spool 22 supported between a bottom mounting portion 24 and a topfacing portion 26. Fiber optic jumpers 28 wrap around or over jumperspool 22 in order for the jumper spool to store and absorb slackassociated with the jumpers. Jumpers 28 include one jumper which wrapsaround or over jumper spool 22 and also include separate and differentjumpers which wrap around or over the jumper spool.

Jumper spool 22 generally has a cylindrical body structure with adiameter 30. Diameter 30 is large enough to ensure that jumpers 28wrapped around or over jumper spool 22 maintain a minimum bend radius.Preferably, diameter 30 is at least 3.0 inches to accommodate thestandard minimum jumper bend radius of 1.5 inches. As such, jumpers 28are not bent past the minimum bend radius when wrapped around or overjumper spool 22.

The cylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 has a width 32 betweenbottom mount 24 and top face 26. The size of width 32 determines thejumper volume storable by jumper spool 22. That is, the size of width 32determines the number of times that jumpers 28 are able to wrap aroundor over jumper spool 22 while being wrapped in a loose containment fieldthat permits the jumpers the ability to slide in relation to oneanother.

Bottom mount 24 and top face 26 also have cylindrical body structures.The widths of bottom mount 24 and top face 26 are relatively smallerthan the width of jumper spool 22 as the bottom mount and the top facefunction as covers for the jumper spool. The diameters of bottom mount24 and top face 26 are relatively larger than diameter 30 of jumperspool 22 in order to prevent jumpers 28 wrapped around or over thejumper spool from inadvertently slipping away from the jumper spool.

In accordance with the present invention, jumper spool 22 has atelescoping feature which enables the width of jumper spool 22 to bechanged. The telescoping feature enables the width of jumper spool 22 tobe enlarged (or contracted) in order to increase (decrease) the jumpervolume storable by the jumper spool. FIG. 1 illustrates jumper spool 22in a non-telescoped layout. In the non-telescoped layout, jumper spool22 has a minimum width which is set at width 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

The cylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 is configured toinclude multiple body layers which are interconnected and overlap oneanother to enable the telescoping feature and to accommodate forincreases in the width of jumper spool 22 between bottom mount 24 andtop face 26. The multiple body layers expand out from one another toincrease the width of jumper spool 22. FIG. 1 illustrates the situationin which the multiple layers of the cylindrical body structure of jumperspool 22 are contracted over one another such that the jumper spool hasminimum width 32.

Referring now to FIG. 2, with continual reference to FIG. 1, a side viewof spool assembly 20 in which jumper spool 22 is in a telescoped layoutis shown. In FIG. 2, jumper spool 22 has a width 34 which is larger thanwidth 32 of the non-telescoped layout shown in FIG. 1. As such, jumperspool 22 has a larger jumper storage capacity with width 34 than withwidth 32. In the telescoped layout, the multiple body layers of thecylindrical body structure of jumper spool 22 have expanded out from oneanother in order to increase the width of the jumper spool to maximumwidth 34. In the telescoped layout, jumper spool 22 maintains itsdiameter 30 to ensure that the minimum bend radius for jumpers 28wrapped around or over the jumper spool is maintained.

The telescoping feature of jumper spool 22 enables the width of thejumper spool to be set between minimum width 32 and maximum width 34.This allows customization of the jumper storage capacity provided byjumper spool 22. The telescoping feature is triggered with the use of aspring button 36 positioned on top face 26. Spring button 36 isgenerally configured with bottom mount 24 and top face 26 to change thelateral position of the top face from left to right with respect tobottom mount 24 as seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2. To this end, springbutton 36 is attached to a spring 37 which extends through the interiorof jumper spool 22. A bottom end of spring 37 mounts to bottom mount 24.A top end of spring 37 mounts to top face 26.

Spring 37 is biased to push away from bottom mount 24 and apply apushing out force to top face 26 in order to laterally move the top faceaway from the bottom mount and thereby increase the width of jumperspool 22. Top face 26 connects with the body layers of jumper spool 22such that the body layers expand out from one another to increase thewidth of the jumper spool as the top face laterally moves away frombottom mount 24. Spring button 36 is configured with bottom mount 24,top face 26, and spring 37 to lock the spring in place in order to setthe top face in a given lateral position with respect to the bottomface. Upon spring button 36 locking spring 37 in place, top face 26 isnot able to laterally move farther away from bottom mount 24. Likewise,top face 26 is biased by spring 37 to maintain its given lateralposition upon spring button 36 locking the spring in place.

Referring now to FIG. 3, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, atop view of spool assembly 20 is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, springbutton 36 is generally positioned in the middle of the cylindrical bodystructure of top face 26. Likewise, the spring extends through themiddle of the interior of jumper spool 22 between bottom mount 24 andtop face 26.

Referring now to FIG. 4, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 3,a bottom view of spool assembly 20 is shown. In accordance with thepresent invention, bottom mount 24 includes an adhesive surface 38.Adhesive surface 38 is a stick-on surface which is initially covered bya peel-off surface. Upon the peel-off surface being peeled off, adhesivesurface 38 adheres to the surfaces of structures such as troughs,network equipment, fiber distribution frames, relay racks, etc. As such,adhesive surface 38 attaches spool assembly 20 to such surfaces. Thatis, wherever spool assembly 20 fits on a surface structure, the spoolassembly can be attached and used. This enables customized placement ofone or more spool assemblies 20 in a fiber optics environment.

Referring now to FIG. 5, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 4,a side view of a multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Multiple spoolassembly arrangement 40 generally includes two or more jumper spools 22for absorbing fiber optic jumper slack.

Adhesive surfaces 38 of bottom mounts 24 of jumper spools 22 adhere to abase plate 42 in order to mount the jumper spools onto the base plate.Jumper spools 22 are separated from one another by a minimum separationdistance 44 (shown in FIG. 7) such as 3.0 inches. As such, jumper spools22 rapidly absorb slack of jumpers by enabling the jumpers to wraparound the jumper spools 22 from one to another in a “figure eight”configuration. Again, the jumper storage volume capacity provided byjumper spools 22 of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 is a functionof the widths of the jumper spools. FIG. 5 illustrates jumper spools 22in a non-telescoped layout such that the jumper spools have minimumwidth 32 and, consequently, have a minimum jumper volume storagecapacity.

Referring now to FIG. 6, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 5,a side view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 in which jumperspools 22 are in a telescoped layout is shown. In the telescoped layoutshown in FIG. 6, jumper spools 22 have maximum width 34 and,consequently, have a maximum jumper volume storage capacity.

Referring now to FIG. 7, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 6,a top view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 is shown. As shownin FIG. 7, top faces 26 of jumper spools 22 are positioned away from oneanother by minimal separation distance 44. As described above, minimalseparation distance 44 is set to ensure that jumpers 28 maintain theirminimum bend radius when extending between jumper spools 28 in order towrap around the jumper spools in the figure eight configuration.

Referring now to FIG. 8, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 7,a bottom view of multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 is shown. Inaccordance with the present invention, base plate 42 includes anadhesive surface 46 like adhesive surfaces 38 of bottom mounts 24 ofjumper spools 22. Adhesive surface 46 is a stick-on surface whichadheres to the surfaces of structures such as troughs, networkequipment, fiber distribution frames, relay racks, etc. As such,adhesive surface 46 attaches multiple spool assembly arrangement 40 tosuch surfaces. That is, wherever multiple spool assembly arrangement 40fits on a surface structure, the multiple spool assembly arrangement canbe attached and used. Again, this enables customized placement ofmultiple spool assembly arrangement 40 in a fiber optics environment.

Referring now to FIG. 9, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through 8,a side view of a relay rack panel assembly 50 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention is shown. Rack panel assembly 50includes a panel 52. Panel 52 is suitable for being horizontallyinserted into a relay rack in a manner similar to how network equipmentbays are inserted into the relay rack. Panel 52 includes a top surface53 and a bottom surface 54. One or more jumper spools 22 are mounted ontop surface 53 and/or bottom surface 54 of panel 52 for absorbing fiberoptic jumper slack in a relay rack. When rack panel assembly 50 isinserted into a relay rack, jumper spools 22 absorb the slack of jumpers28 routed between the network equipment bays in the relay rack. That is,jumpers 28 connected to one termination point in a network equipment bayare wrapped around or over jumper spools 22 and then connected toanother termination point in the bay or in a different bay in order forthe jumper spools to absorb the slack of the jumpers.

FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively illustrate top and bottom views of rackpanel assembly 50. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates top surface 53 ofpanel 52 more clearly. Similarly, FIG. 11 illustrates bottom surface 54of panel 52 more clearly.

Referring now to FIG. 12, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through11, a perspective view of a fiber optics environment 60 in accordancewith the present invention is shown. Fiber optics environment 60includes a raceway 62 horizontally extending over network equipment 64.Raceway 62 carries and supports jumpers 28 over network equipment 64.Certain jumpers 28 in raceway 62 exit the raceway through a raceway exittrough 66 to connect with network equipment 64. Network equipment 64includes a relay rack 68 and a plurality of network equipment bays 70.Bays 70 are inserted into relay rack 68 and are mounted to sides 72 ofthe relay rack. Bays 70 include a plurality of fiber optic terminationpoints 74 along with fiber optics communications equipment.

Jumpers 28 exited from raceway 62 extend down from the raceway andtowards relay rack 68. Typically, these jumpers 28 run down along relayrack sides 72. Of course, these jumpers 28 are also able to run downalong a duct within the interior of relay rack 68. In either event,these jumpers 28 route through network equipment 64 in order to makeconnections with network equipment bay termination points 74.

As can be appreciated, jumpers 28 routed in raceway 62 have a relativelylarge length as the jumpers are routed by the raceway through fiberoptics environment 60. As such, the portions of jumpers 28 exited fromraceway 62 will have a much larger length than the length required formaking connections with network equipment bay termination points 74placed below the raceway. Thus, this excess jumper length (i.e., slack)has to be stored within network equipment 64 in some manner.

In accordance with the present invention, fiber optics environment 60includes spool assemblies 20 which are selectively incorporated as partof the environment for absorbing the jumper slack. In particular, spoolassemblies 20 adhere to relay rack sides 72 in order to be selectivelyplaced adjacent to bays 70. Jumpers 28 exited from raceway 62 extenddown along relay rack sides 72 and wrap around or over spool assemblies20. Jumpers 28 then extend from spool assemblies 20 to bays 70 in orderto connect with termination points 74. As can be understood, spoolassemblies 20 absorb the jumper slack as jumpers 28 wrap around or overthe spool assemblies. Then, relatively small length portions of jumpers28 extend from spool assemblies 20 to connect with termination points74. Thus, the lengths of the portions of jumpers 28 running down throughrelay rack 68 and to termination points 74 are sized appropriately tothe physical lengths actually required for these tasks whereas thelengths of the remaining jumper portions are stored by spool assemblies20. As such, fiber optics environment 60 represents an environment inwhich jumper slack is stored next to network equipment 64 or within afiber distributing frame.

Referring now to FIG. 13, with continual reference to FIGS. 1 through12, a perspective view of a fiber optics environment 80 in accordancewith the present invention is shown. Fiber optics environment 80 alsoincludes a raceway 82 extending over two pieces of network equipment 84,85. Raceway 82 routes jumpers 28 over network equipment 84, 85. Jumpers28 exit raceway 82 through exit raceway troughs 86 to connect withnetwork equipment 84, 85.

Network equipment 84 includes a relay rack 88 and a plurality of networkequipment bays 90, 92, 94. Bays 90, 92, 94 are inserted into relay rack88 and are mounted to sides 72 of the relay rack. Bays 90, 92, 94include a plurality of fiber optic termination points 74 along withfiber optics communications equipment. Similarly, network equipment 85includes a relay rack 89 and a plurality of network equipment bays 96,98. Bays 96, 98 are inserted into relay rack 89 and are mounted to sides72 of the relay rack. Bays 96, 98 include a plurality of fiber optictermination points 74 along with fiber optics communications equipment.

Certain jumpers 28 exited from raceway 82 extend down from the racewayand towards relay rack 88 of network equipment 84. Such jumpers 28 rundown along relay rack sides 72. Other jumpers 28 exited from raceway 82extend down from the raceway and towards relay rack 89 of networkequipment 85. These jumpers 28 run along a duct 100 within the interiorof relay rack 89. In either event, jumpers 28 route through networkequipment 84, 85 in order to make connections with network equipment baytermination points 74.

In accordance with the present invention, fiber optics environment 80includes spool assemblies 20 and rack panel assemblies 50 which areselectively incorporated as part of the environment for absorbing jumperslack. For example, spool assemblies 20 are adhered to sides 72 of relayrack 88 in order to be selectively placed adjacent to bays 90, 92, 94 ofnetwork equipment 84. Jumpers 28 extend down along rack sides 72 andwrap around or over spool assemblies 20. Jumpers 28 then extend fromspool assemblies 20 to connect with termination points 74 of networkequipment bays 90, 92, 94.

Further, rack panel assemblies 50 are inserted into relay racks 88, 89in a manner similar to how the bays are inserted and mounted in therelay racks. Rack panel assemblies 50 include spool assemblies 20 whichare used to absorb jumper slack. For example, a spool assembly 20 of apanel assembly 50 mounted in relay rack 88 absorbs slack of jumpers 28interconnected between network equipment bay 92 as shown in FIG. 13.Another spool assembly 20 of panel assembly 50 mounted in relay rack 88absorbs slack of jumpers 28 which run along rack sides 72 and areinterconnected between raceway 82 and network equipment bay 94 as shownin FIG. 13.

Likewise, for example, a spool assembly 20 of a panel assembly 50mounted in relay rack 89 absorbs slack of jumpers 28 interconnectedbetween network equipment bay 96 as shown in FIG. 13. This spoolsassembly 20 also absorbs slack of jumpers 28 which run along throughduct 100 and are interconnected between raceway 82 and network equipmentbay 96 as shown in FIG. 13. Further, for example, a spool assembly 20adhered to rack side 72 of relay rack 88 absorbs slack of jumpers 28routed and interconnected from network equipment 84 to network equipmentbay 98 of network equipment 85 as shown in FIG. 13. As another example,a spool assembly 10 adhered to the inside surface of raceway 82 absorbsslack of jumpers 28 routed through the raceway as shown in FIG. 13.

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate anddescribe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the wordsused in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A spool assembly for storing slack of fiber optic jumpers, the spoolassembly comprising: a face; a mount having an adhesive surface; and acylindrical spool supported between the face and the mount for receivingfiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the spool in order to storeslack of the fiber optic jumpers, the spool having a radius larger thana minimum bend radius of the fiber optic jumpers such that the fiberoptic jumpers wrapped over or around the spool are not bent beyond theminimum bend radius; wherein the spool has a width between the face andthe mount, wherein capacity of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpersis a function of the width of the spool, wherein the width of the spoolis expandible in order to increase the capacity of the spool for storingfiber optic jumpers; wherein the adhesive surface of the mount isattachable to a structure in order to position the spool adjacent to thestructure.
 2. The spool assembly of claim 1 wherein: the width of thespool is contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spool forstoring fiber optic jumpers.
 3. The spool assembly of claim 2 furthercomprising: a spring extending through the interior of the spool betweenthe mount and the face; a spring button on the face; the spring buttonbeing operable with the mount, the face, and the spring to set aposition of the spring in order to expand and contract the width of thespool.
 4. The spool assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a panelhaving a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having anadhesive surface; wherein the adhesive surface of the mount attaches tothe top surface of the panel in order to attach the spool to the panel;wherein the adhesive surface of the bottom surface of the panel isattachable to a structure in order to position the spool adjacent to thestructure.
 5. The spool assembly of claim 4 further comprising: a secondcylindrical spool supported between a second face and a second mount forreceiving fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the second spool inorder to store slack of the fiber optic jumpers, the second spool havinga radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic jumperssuch that the fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the secondspool are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius; wherein an adhesivesurface of the second mount attaches to the top surface of the panel inorder to attach the second spool to the panel; wherein the adhesivesurface of the bottom surface of the panel is attachable to thestructure in order to position the second spool adjacent to thestructure.
 6. The spool assembly of claim 5 wherein: the spools areattached to the top surface of the panel such that the spools have aminimum separation distance in order to accommodate the minimum bendradius of the fiber optic jumpers when the fiber optic jumpers arewrapped around the spools from one spool to the other spool in a figureeight configuration.
 7. A fiber optics system comprising: a relay rackhaving one or more network equipment bays horizontally inserted therein;and a rack panel assembly having a panel suitable for being horizontallyinserted into the relay rack between or adjacent to the networkequipment bays, the panel having a top surface and a bottom surface; therack panel assembly further including one or more spool assemblies, eachspool assembly including a cylindrical spool supported on a mount havingan adhesive surface, the adhesive surface of the mount of a spoolattaches to one of the top and bottom surfaces of the panel in order toattach the spool to the panel such that the spool is positioned betweenor adjacent to the network equipment bays in order to store slack offiber optic jumpers connected to the network equipment bays upon thefiber optic jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool, the spoolhaving a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the fiber opticjumpers such that the fiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around thespool are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius; wherein the spool issupported between the mount and a face, wherein the spool has a widthbetween the face and the mount, wherein capacity of the spool forstoring fiber optic jumpers is a function of the width of the spool;wherein the width of the spool is expandible in order to increase thecapacity of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpers, and the width ofthe spool is contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spoolfor storing fiber optic jumpers.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein: aspring extends through the interior of the spool between the mount andthe face, and a spring button is on the face, wherein the spring buttonis operable with the mount, the face, and the spring to set a positionof the spring in order to expand and contract the width of the spool. 9.The system of claim 7 further comprising: a second set of spoolassemblies, wherein the adhesive surface of the mount of a spool of thesecond set of spool assemblies attaches to a side of the relay rack inorder to attach the spool of the second set of spool assemblies to therelay rack side such that the spool of the second set of spoolassemblies is positioned adjacent to the network equipment bays in orderto store slack of fiber optic jumpers connected to the network equipmentbays upon the fiber optic jumpers being wrapped over or around the spoolof the second set of spool assemblies.
 10. The system of claim 7 furthercomprising: a raceway extending over the relay rack, the raceway routingfiber optic jumpers to the network equipment bays in the relay rack; anda second set of spool assemblies, wherein the adhesive surface of themount of a spool of the second set of spool assemblies attaches to aside of the relay rack in order to attach the spool of the second set ofspool assemblies to the relay rack side such that the spool of thesecond set of spool assemblies is positioned adjacent to the networkequipment bays in order to store slack of fiber optic jumpers routedfrom the raceway to the network equipment bays upon these fiber opticjumpers being wrapped over or around the spool of the second set ofspool assemblies.
 11. The system of claim 7 further comprising: a secondrelay rack having one or more network equipment bays horizontallyinserted therein; and a second set of spool assemblies, wherein theadhesive surface of the mount of a spool of the second set of spoolassemblies attaches to a side of the second relay rack in order toattach the spool of the second set of spool assemblies to the secondrelay rack side such that the spool of the second set of spoolassemblies is positioned to store slack of fiber optic jumpers routedbetween the relay racks upon these fiber optic jumpers being wrappedover or around the spool of the second set of spool assemblies.
 12. Afiber optics system comprising: a rack having one or more networkequipment bays inserted therein; a raceway extending over the rack, theraceway routing fiber optic jumpers to the network equipment bays in therack; and a spool assembly including a cylindrical spool supported on amount having an adhesive surface, the adhesive surface of the mount ofthe spool attaches to the rack in order to attach the spool to the racksuch that the spool is positioned adjacent to the network equipment baysin order to store slack of fiber optic jumpers connected between theraceway and the network equipment bays upon the fiber optic jumpersbeing wrapped over or around the spool, the spool having a radius largerthan a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic jumpers such that thefiber optic jumpers wrapped over or around the spool are not bent beyondthe minimum bend radius; wherein the spool is supported between themount and a face, wherein the spool has a width between the face and themount, wherein capacity of the spool for storing fiber optic jumpers isa function of the width of the spool; wherein the width of the spool isexpandible in order to increase the capacity of the spool for storingfiber optic jumpers.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein: the width ofthe spool is contractible in order to decrease the capacity of the spoolfor storing fiber optic jumpers.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein: aspring extends through the interior of the spool between the mount andthe face, and a spring button is on the face, wherein the spring buttonis operable with the mount, the face, and the spring to set a positionof the spring in order to expand and contract the width of the spool.